Controversial studies: Ski World Association also introduces gender tests

After boxers and athletes, ski athletes also have to prepare for gender tests. The Ski and Snowboard World Association FIS decided in future to only allow athletes to compete for competitions, in which a so-called Sry Gentest produces the result “female” to determine the biological gender.

FIS President Johan Eliasch describes the decision of the Council as “cornerstone of our commitment to protect women’s sports”. With the national associations and other actors in the ski world, it will now be discussed how the tests have to run off, it said.

Debate about boxers and athletes

The topic of gender tests is extremely sensitive, especially boxing and athletics have been in focus in this regard in recent years. Both associations recently introduced corresponding controls, which resulted in a wide variety of reactions. Box-Olympic champion IMANE KHELIF, who was the center of an intensively guided gender debate at the summer games in Paris, moved to the International Sports Court CAS, for example.

FIS writes that she has extensively consulted experts in the field before its decision. Eliasch said that there is “only a fair and transparent way” to protect women’s sports, namely “by relying on scientific knowledge and biological facts”.

Cheek smear or blood sample

In the Sry Gentest, athletes are examined on a gene on the Y chromosome that is crucial for the development of male gender characteristics. Basically, a cheek smear or a blood recovery is sufficient.